A FURTHER appeal for information was today made by police investigating the killing of a man found stabbed in a back lane shortly before Christmas.

Detectives seeking the killer or killers of David Scott specifically want to hear from anyone who saw a young man wearing a light blue body warmer in the Stanley or nearby South Moor areas, of County Durham, on the evening of Saturday December 22, up to 3am the following morning.

He may have been one of two youths seen running down the back lane of Rose Avenue, South Moor, in the early hours of December 23.

Police were called to Rose Avenue at about 1.30am on December 23 following reports of a disturbance.

Thirty-three-year-old Mr Scott was found bleeding heavily in the back lane by residents in Rose Avenue.

He was treated at the scene by paramedics and taken to the Royal Victoria Infirmary in Newcastle, where he died that morning.

The man leading the police investigation, Detective Superintendent Paul Goundry, said today: “A number of people have already come forward with information and we’re grateful for their assistance, but I’m asking others to consider if they have anything to tell us.

“They might not think their information is significant, but it could be the final crucial piece of the jigsaw.”

More than eight days after the incident further high intensity scenes of crime inquiries were made today.

Specialist officers carried out finger tip searches of Rose Avenue and streets in the immediate vicinity in South Moor.

Mr Scott, a single man, was the father-of-two children, a five-year-old son and a daughter who will have her seventh birthday on Wednesday (January 2).

He lived with his mother, Janice, and the children in South Stanley.

Sixty-one-year-old Mrs Scott has spoken of the anguish suffered by the family since learning of his death.

“My son was left to die in the street like an animal, and the pain and misery of the family gets deeper every day.”

She said Mr Scott’s large family in the south of England have also been “torn apart” by the tragedy.

Anyone with sightings of the young man in the light blue body warmer, or with any other information which may assist the inquiry can speak directly to detectives in the case, using the 101 police number, or anonymously via the Crimestoppers’ freephone line, on (0800) 555111.